Shanghai resident Zhou Mingjia has seen his life change somewhat during the past two months - all thanks to Latin dance classes.
Every Thursday night, regardless of the weather, Mr Zhou travels 90 minutes to a dance club in Pudong district for a two-hour Latin session. At the weekend he polishes his skills with the help of a young family member, an eight-year-old girl who has been studying the dance style for about a year.
'Latin dancing is very good for your body and, compared to other kinds of exercises, it allows you to demonstrate your acting abilities. But it is also difficult to grasp,' Mr Zhou said.
The portly 51-year-old had been a long-time waltz enthusiast until the launch of a local television series called Dancing with Anchors in February.
The programme, aired every Sunday night, was a competition among 50 hosts and hostesses from the Shanghai East TV Station. In each round, they performed one form of ballroom dancing, including modern dance and Latin, with professional partners after training in their spare time.
The TV anchors, most of whom chose the Latin style of dancing, were assessed according to their skill and how many text-message votes they received from the public. Featuring dazzling moves and scantily clad female dancers, the show was among the top-rated programmes in the city.